Top End Explorer

Spend the day at leisure in tropical Darwin. Wander along the tree lined esplanade and Bicentennial Park before visiting the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory or the Darwin Military Museum, two of the Northern Territories premier cultural attractions. As the sun slips below the horizon, explore the vibrant waterfront precinct or head to nearby bustling Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, a melting pot of cultures all socialising, eating and selling a variety of merchandise. Alternatively enjoy a guided day tour to Litchfield National Park, known for its towering termite mounds and enjoy its many cascading waterfalls, crystal clear swimming holes and pockets of lush rainforest. Overnight at Oaks Elan Darwin.

Collect your hire car and drive south towards Nitmiluk National Park, a region steeped in Aboriginal culture, taking a short detour to Edith Falls for a swim in the lagoon before continuing on to one of the Northern Territory’s most spectacular natural attractions, the mighty Katherine Gorge. Experience the region’s varied flora and fauna on a memorable gorge cruise and learn about the history and traditions of the region’s Indigenous inhabitants as you admire the ever changing colours of the dramatic rock formed nearly 23 million years ago. Alternatively you can canoe through the gorges or take to the skies to witness this remarkable landscape from above. Overnight in Cicada Lodge. Breakfast included.

Collect your hire car and drive south towards Nitmiluk National Park, a region steeped in Aboriginal culture, taking a short detour to Edith Falls for a swim in the lagoon before continuing on to one of the Northern Territory’s most spectacular natural attractions, the mighty Katherine Gorge. Experience the region’s varied flora and fauna on a memorable gorge cruise and learn about the history and traditions of the region’s Indigenous inhabitants as you admire the ever changing colours of the dramatic rock formed nearly 23 million years ago. Alternatively you can canoe through the gorges or take to the skies to witness this remarkable landscape from above. Overnight in Cicada Lodge. Breakfast included.

In pictures

Drive towards the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kakadu National Park, home to native Aboriginals for more than 50,000 years , passing through the small townships of Katherine and Pine Creek along the way. Covering almost 20,000 sq km, Kakadu National Park has both past and present sheltered a staggering array of habitats and wildlife and is home to a plethora of thriving floodplains, thundering waterfalls and dramatic escarpments. Experience the best the park has to offer on a remarkable Yellow Waters billabong cruise. Encounter saltwater crocodiles, buffalos and a huge array of birdlife as your local guide regales you with tales about the park’s diverse environment, history and its traditional Aboriginal owners. On the way to your accommodation in Jabiru take a short detour to Nourlangie Rock Art Site and learn about the history of Aboriginal communities that lived in Kakadu from their awe-inspiring descriptive paintings. Spend two nights at Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel.

Enjoy an exhilarating 4WD day tour to one of Australia’s most untouched wilderness areas, Arnhem Land. Your Aboriginal guide will tell you the stories behind the ancient rock art, demonstrate traditional Aboriginal survival and hunting skills and enlighten you on the culture and history of the custodians of Arnhem Land, the Yolngu people. Throughout the tour you will witness some of Australia’s most epic landscapes from endless floodplains to immense escarpments, flourishing billabongs and abundant wildlife. Visitors to Arnhem Land are strictly limited in order to preserve the sanctity of the Aboriginals that live there, so this is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Enjoy an exhilarating 4WD day tour to one of Australia’s most untouched wilderness areas, Arnhem Land. Your Aboriginal guide will tell you the stories behind the ancient rock art, demonstrate traditional Aboriginal survival and hunting skills and enlighten you on the culture and history of the custodians of Arnhem Land, the Yolngu people. Throughout the tour you will witness some of Australia’s most epic landscapes from endless floodplains to immense escarpments, flourishing billabongs and abundant wildlife. Visitors to Arnhem Land are strictly limited in order to preserve the sanctity of the Aboriginals that live there, so this is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In pictures

Drive to Wildman Wilderness Lodge in the heart of Mary River National Park. This remote luxury eco-safari lodge located on the edge of the Mary River wetlands offers the ideal opportunity to explore the thriving billabong on its doorstep, enjoy self-guided bushwalks, take out the complimentary mountain bikes or simply relax in the infinity pool. This evening join an optional guided tour to the nearby lookout of Leichhardt Point and enjoy champagne and canapes as you watch the sun set and the sounds of the wetlands come to life. Alternatively enjoy the outside fire pit at the lodge with a glass of wine as you admire the southern night sky above you. Spend two nights at Wildman Wilderness Lodge with dinner and breakfast included.